Thanks Hurcules...

But yes indeed, this applies everywhere!

Anyway, ah ha! I found someone to ask about Lombok when I visit next year. I heard it's developing very fast. Hahahahaa....

nice to meet you Lombok's DE!!!

cheeersss

I often read your Posts here Chandrana, you are a tireless contributor and I am sure you have smoothed out the wrinkles for many people visiting or passing through Batam.

Thanks again for the kind words. I try my best whenever I have free time =) And if I am tireless, you are like 10 times more tireless than me!!! buahhaaa....

In any case, glad to help you guys!!! Be safe and have fun!!!

Bump for warnings for all travelers!

Good advice, Chandrana! I hope many people read your post and follow your advice...

Thanks for reading Ubudpuppy... just one of those days when I had something to share =)

if TA only had a "like" system . hahaha peace

Hi Chandrana

Every reviewer must have a first review, however some seem to be fairly blatant self advertising, not just Batam but across the TA world.

I tend to go through the most recent 10-20 reviews of a place and then provided not all first time reviewers, I look for common themes or actually hope to find a couple of minor complaints among them on the basis that not every place will be a 5* every time for every person. Also what appeals to me will not appeal to every other person but might to the majority.

Everyone has their own pet likes/dislikes which will make or break a review.

I would hate a nightclub/disco at my hotel but others would prefer to have one so my review would be much lower than theirs however it is probable that both of our reviews would mention the nightclub so future potential customers could make up their own mind based on whether that is an issue or attraction for them.

So far i have been happy with my selections based on this method but no doubt one day i might get one wrong. Hopefully not on my upcoming trip in about a months time.

Also if all reviews are older than 12 months then i would be doubtful about their reliability either way because of possible improvements or deteriorations in that time.

Cheers

not sure if there is a definitive answer on how to solve the problem but it also applies to activities and drivers etc self promoting

Well said mcb. We already mentioned above that this is true everywhere else =)

As you said everyone has their own likes/dislikes. As such, they are all entitled to their own opinions. I agree every reviewer gotta start somewhere but I was pointing at "first time posters" not reviewer. Because in Batam case, there are many members who posted glowing and godly review and when you right click on their profile, they have 0 post in the forum. This kind of review lose credibility in my opinion.

Say, there is member X, who has 100 posts in the forum (depending on the contents but let's not get too detailed). This X only has 1 review! His review should have some credibility because at least I don't think he just created the account to reply many posts just so that he can review 1 place. Even if that's the case, then I am giving this X an A for efforts and am gladly be fooled by his review =)

Will there be an exception? Of course! But I am not gonna discuss it further because I have better things to do. And with this post alone, I could have replied 10 messages sitting in my inbox =)

The point is we are all old enough to read and digest the information. Whatever decision you make based on TA reviews/forums/etc, let it be informed decisions. And if you still get unlucky after all these, well, pray more, help the needy, control your temper, be nice to people around you, stay positive, do more good deeds, etc. hahahahahaa...

Cheeersss